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SBI knocks HC doors over State government selling five acres land ‘allotted to it earlier’

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SBI knocks HC doors over State government selling five acres land ‘allotted to it earlier’

DMK president M.K. Stalin. File. Credit: X@mkstalin DMK president M.K. Stalin on Sunday (June 28, 2026) accused the TVK-led government of not addressing pressing issues such as power outages and protests by farmers, and instead, indulging in diverting people’s attention.Speaking at an event at Vanagaram in Chennai where hundreds of supporters of former AIADMK Minister P. Benjamin joined the DMK, Mr. Stalin said that in the last five years, Tamil Nadu had reached new heights in several sectors. “It was the DMK that made Tamil Nadu the second-largest economy in India. We formulated welfare schemes that benefited all sections of society and ensured that they reached the people,” he said.“Because of the confidence in the DMK government, investors from across the country and around the world came forward to invest in Tamil Nadu, leading to the creation of employment opportunities. But now there has been a change in government. Within one month, Tamil Nadu has reached a situation where it is heading downhill,” he said.According to him, industrial establishments are hesitant to invest in the State due to the deterioration of law and order, increasing sexual abuse cases, narcotic drug menace, and robberies. In many of these crimes, members of the ruling party were the accused, he said.“There are power cuts and protests by farmers. But instead of addressing these issues, the government is in a take-diversion mode. People have now understood the tactics of the new government,” Mr. Stalin said.He said the responsibility of protecting Tamil Nadu rests with the DMK. “We cannot allow the Tamil Nadu we nurtured with great care to deteriorate. Not winning one election is not a downfall. We [the DMK] have witnessed many victories and defeats,” said Mr. Stalin, who also listed several welfare measures implemented by the previous DMK government.“What usually happens after a general election is that members of Opposition parties switch over to the ruling party. But now, many are joining the DMK, which is in the Opposition. It is clear that those who are joining the DMK are joining not for posts, but for its ideology. They believe that only a strong DMK can protect Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Stalin said.Meanwhile, former senior office-bearers and district-level functionaries of the MDMK on Sunday joined the DMK in the presence of Mr. Stalin at Anna Arivalayam, the party headquarters. Published - June 28, 2026 10:44 pm IST

Congress’ wait to join the Tamil Nadu Cabinet continues

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Congress’ wait to join the Tamil Nadu Cabinet continues

Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh | Photo Credit: SIVA SARAVANAN S The Tamil Nadu textile and apparel industry should leverage the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for technical textiles and manmade fibre sector for which the Union government has allocated ₹11,000 crore, said Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh in Tiruppur on Sunday.Speaking at a meeting organised by the Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA), he said the Centre has relaxed the norms for the PLI scheme to encourage investments in technical textiles and MMF sectors.“As for the new schemes planned by the Ministry, some have gone to the Cabinet, and others will follow—they are designed to be pro-industry. We have factored in everything—machinery, employment, and other aspects. I hope that the State and the Centre will work together,” he said.The Minister also urged the industry to look at investing in States where there is labour availability.When Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, silk production stood at 26,000 tonnes annually. It is 43,000 tonnes now and by 2030 it will be 60,000 tonnes. India should export more silk-based garments that are blended with other fibres, he added.A. Sakthivel, chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council, said that the Textile Ministry is introducing new initiatives every two months and all the seven PM MITRA parks were now operational.According to K.M. Subramanian, president of the TEA, the government should look at early implementation of the Textile Expansion and Employment Scheme (TEEM) and extend benefits under the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies for three more years. Later, the Minister interacted with textile machinery manufacturers and had a meeting with officials of the South India Textile Research Association (SITRA) in Coimbatore. Responding to the demand to extend benefits under the TEEM scheme for the spinning and cotton ginning machines, he asked the industry for details so that the Ministry can study it.The industry in Tamil Nadu should look at tripling exports, he said and called for investments to make indigenous machinery for knitting, weaving, and processing sectors.The Minister also inaugurated a GM Testing Laboratory for cotton and cotton-derived materials at SITRA. The laboratory will meet the growing need for traceability, quality assurance, and compliance in the global cotton trade. It will help exporters meet requirements of organic standards such as GOTS and OCS, which mandate qualitative GM cotton screening.The laboratory has obtained its NABL accreditation in the recent assessment. Published - June 28, 2026 09:51 pm IST

A.P. emerging as one of India’s fastest-growing industrial destinations, says Minister

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A.P. emerging as one of India’s fastest-growing industrial destinations, says Minister

TPCC chief Mahesh Kumar and others pay floral tributes to former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao 105 th birth anniversary at PV Ghat in Hyderabad on Sunday. HYDERABADPolitical leaders across party lines paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, a son of the soil, on the occasion of his 105th birth anniversary on Sunday, recalling his great contributions to nation-building and economic reforms.Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy paid floral tributes to Mr. Narasimha Rao’s portrait at his residence in Jubilee Hills. Ministers Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Adluri Laxman Kumar accompanied him. In a message shared on social media, the Chief Minister said the services rendered by the former Prime Minister in shaping modern India were unforgettable. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy with Ministers Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Adluri Laxman Kumar pay tributes to PV at the former’s residence in Jubilee Hills on Sunday. TPCC president and MLC B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Adluri Laxman Kumar, MP Anil Yadav, Government Adviser Harkara Venugopal, AICC secretary Rudra Raju and several other Congress leaders paid homage at the P.V. Ghat on Necklace Road. Congress leaders also organised commemorative programmes and offered tributes at Gandhi Bhavan. The Chief Minister later laid foundation stone for the first phase of the drinking water scheme at NG College Grounds ahead of the public meeting.BJP leaders Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao also paid glowing tributes at the P.V. Ghat. Recalling Mr. Rao’s tenure as Prime Minister, Mr. Kishan Reddy said his initiative and vision in economic and policy reforms laid the foundation for India’s development.He added that the former Prime Minister’s contribution in the making of modern India remains enduring and significant. Mr. Ramchander Rao said Mr. Narasimha Rao was the first Prime Minister outside the Nehru-Gandhi family to complete a full five-year term in office. He also recalled the cordial relationship between Mr. Narasimha Rao and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Former Governor and BJP senior leader Bandaru Dattatreya, party leader and Mr. Narasimha Rao’s grandson NV Subash and others were present. Published - June 28, 2026 07:28 pm IST

Govt. caps slab area under Indiramma Housing scheme

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Govt. caps slab area under Indiramma Housing scheme

A file photo of the Hebbal loop flyover connecting K.R. Puram to Mehkri Circle, at Hebbal in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J The short tunnel from Hebbal junction to the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU) in Bengaluru will be executed under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, moving away from the earlier plan to implement the project under a hybrid model, according to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). Under the EPC mode, a single contractor will handle the project’s design, procurement, and construction. While tenders for the project have recently been finalised, the estimated construction cost alone has already risen by ₹53 crore. Officials said the project was shifted to the EPC mode for faster execution and as the government of Karnataka wants greater control over the project, unlike hybrid models where private players are involved in financing and long-term operations. Karnataka Chief Minister lays foundation stone for Hebbal short tunnel project“Under EPC, the government of Karnataka can fund the project directly. The mode also reduces delays linked to revenue-sharing, toll recovery, or financial closure,” the official said, adding that given the complexities involved in tunnelling work, the EPC model was considered administratively simpler and easier to execute. The construction was earlier estimated to cost ₹1,086 crore, but the figure has now increased to ₹1,139 crore, a senior BDA official overseeing the implementation said, while maintaining that the overall project cost would not balloon further. Recently, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar announced that Hyderabad-based Rithwik Projects Private Limited, which quoted ₹1,139 crore for the project, had emerged as the successful bidder.Questions remain unansweredHowever, both the BDA, which is spearheading the project to decongest traffic on Ballari Road, and BSMILE, the special purpose vehicle involved in planning the project, are yet to respond to the concerns raised by the State Finance Department. Sources from the Finance Department said that they will again write to the Urban Development Department, seeking a response on their concerns. The Finance Department had questioned how such an expensive project – described as a ‘quick fix’ by the B-SMILE — can be justified. To this, the SPV had argued that the short tunnel would serve as a quick fix to the proposed long tunnel project, and help decongest traffic on Ballari Road. The Finance Department suggested constructing a surface road, arguing that it could be completed faster and at nearly one-tenth the cost of the tunnel. The department has also raised objections over claims that the project would ease congestion, arguing that it may simply shift traffic bottlenecks elsewhere.The BDA maintained that road widening is not possible on the stretch, and that the short tunnel would help decongest traffic up to the airport road. Officials said that the successful bidder has begun an alignment survey to determine the exact route and engineering configuration of the tunnel, including its entry and exit points, depth, land requirements, and possible impact on existing roads and nearby infrastructure, before construction begins. Published - May 26, 2026 09:10 am IST

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NZ minister questions govt over India FTA visa changes

NZ minister questions govt over India FTA visa changes Awaz The Voice

BJP accuses Congress-led govt. in Kerala of promoting alcohol consumption

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BJP accuses Congress-led govt. in Kerala of promoting alcohol consumption

Senior National Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sudhanshu Trivedi. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday (June 26, 2026) accused the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala of promoting alcohol consumption by proposing to slash taxes on low-alcohol beverages.At a media briefing, BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi described the decision to reduce excise tax on low-alcohol liquor by nearly half as “disastrous”. “By reducing government revenue and providing benefits to liquor businessmen, when consumption is bound to increase, do you want to push the entire younger generation towards alcohol?”, he asked.Mr. Trivedi questioned the government’s decision, saying it was inexplicable, particularly when Kerala’s Home Minister, Ramesh Chennithala, had acknowledged that the menace of drugs was becoming increasingly serious in the State.“At this juncture, what is the logic behind reducing excise duty, reducing government revenue, providing greater benefits to your friends in the liquor business, and also creating a danger for the future of the younger generation?,” asked Mr. Trivedi.“It was the Left government that created this new category of low-alcohol liquor, and now the Congress is trying to use it to flood the entire State with alcohol. So, both the Left and the Congress have done a great disservice to the State... they are two sides of the same coin,” he added. Published - June 26, 2026 10:24 pm IST

ED raids former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s houses in CMRL pay-off case

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ED raids former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s houses in CMRL pay-off case

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan has challenged the statement made by senior Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had opened the door to the private sector for the mining of mineral-rich black sand along the Kerala coast.He expressed surprise that this “factually incorrect” statement had come from Mr. Sudheeran, at a time when he had been strongly criticising the black sand mining policy of the new UDF government.Mr. Sudheeran had on Thursday morning said it was the Pinarayi government which had resumed sand-mining operations along the Alappuzha coast, claiming that removing the sand, as part of a desilting and dredging measure, was the permanent solution to the perennial flooding in Kuttanad. He alleged that the guise was that the sand-mining was being carried out by the public sector Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd. but that the sand was being bought up by firms like CMRL.Responding to Mr. Sudheeran on Facebook, Mr. Vijayan said it was the Congress government at the Centre that first granted the private sector the opportunity to carry out mining.The A.K. Antony and Oommen Chandy governments, in power in Kerala between 2001 and 2006, followed this lead and allowed the privatisation of black sand-mining in the State. He alleged that even when strong public protests had erupted over this in the wake of the tsunami disaster, the UDF government ignored these and went ahead with its decision to allow private sector into black sand-miningHe claimed it was the LDF government which came to power in 2006 which took a firm stand against allowing private sector in black sand-mining. When the private firms involved in sand-mining went on appeal with the Union Ministry of Mining, the Congress government as well as the Minister for Mining took decisions favouring the black sand lobby, he said.However, the LDF government did not yield, following which the mining firms approached the High Court against the State government’s stand.Mr. Vijayan alleged that when the UDF returned to power in 2011, it had adopted an approach wherein it deliberately lost the cases filed by the mining firms. Because of strong public protests, the UDF government was unable to implement the decision allowing private companies into the sand-mining area.He said that when the LDF came back to power in 2016, for the next 10 years, no private firm had been allowed an opportunity for sand-mining anywhere in the State.When the Centre made amendments to the minor mineral licensing rules in 2023 in a manner favourable to the black sand lobby, the LDF government had vehemently opposed this, to the effect that the Centre was forced to withdraw the amendment, Mr. Vijayan said.He said that for the past ten years, the LDF had maintained an uncompromising stance against the private black sand mining lobby. It also brought forth the concept of a public sector-based Rare Earth Corridor.The present UDF government had overturned this in the Budget and was now adopting a favourable stance towards allowing private sector entry in black sand mining, toeing the Union government’s line. Mr. Vijayan claimed that it was clear that the Budget proposal for setting up a Rare Earth Critical Mineral Corridor serves the interest of the private black sand-mining lobby.It is common knowledge that the UDF governments have always been in favour of allowing private sector entry into black sand mining and Mr. Sudheeran himself had previously been sharply critical of these decisions of the UDF .Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Sudheeran’s sudden turnaround, raising baseless allegations against the LDF, must be his way of balancing out his criticism of the government led by his own party. Published - June 25, 2026 11:55 pm IST

J&K govt. bids for Sufiyana music’s inclusion in UNESCO’s intangible heritage list

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J&K govt. bids for Sufiyana music’s inclusion in UNESCO’s intangible heritage list

Sufiyana Mousiqi, believed to be in practice since the 15th Century in Kashmir with its muqamsor ragas, is for the first time bidding for the inclusion in list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has written a formal letter to Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and pressed for its inclusion in the UNESCO list.“Given the exceptional heritage value of Kashmiri Sufiyana Music and its relevance to the objectives of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention, I shall be grateful if the proposal is examined sympathetically and necessary action initiated for taking the nomination forward through the prescribed channels,” reads the letter of Mr. Abdullah.In the letter, the J&K Chief Minister sought the Union ministry’s support in “securing global recognition for this priceless cultural legacy of Jammu & Kashmir which shall be a matter of pride for India”.Mr. Abdullah underlined that recognition by UNESCO would “not only ensure international visibility and safeguarding of this invaluable tradition but would also facilitate its preservation, documentation, promotion, and transmission to future generations”.Rooted in the rich traditions of Sufi thought and artistic excellence, Sufiyana music represents a remarkable synthesis of devotional poetry, classical melody, and philosophical depth. “For centuries, this unique musical tradition has served as a powerful medium for promoting harmony, inclusiveness, and cultural dialogue, reflecting the composite ethos of our society,” reads the letter.A proposal for the UNESCO submission was prepared by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Kashmir chapter. It termed Kashmiri Sufiyana music as one of the “most distinguished manifestations of the cultural and spiritual heritage of Jammu & Kashmir”. Saleem Beg, who heads the Kashmir chapter of the INTACH, said the inclusion will result in “international visibility and recognition on a global platform”. “Sufiyana music or Sufiana Kalam or Sufiana Mousiqi meets the core criteria for nomination under the ICH framework. It is a classical music form rooted in Sufi mysticism, representing a unique synthesis of devotional poetry, melody, and rhythm. The tradition embodies Kashmir’s composite culture and its historic ethos of spiritual harmony,” said Mr. Beg.Mr. Beg said Sufiyana Mousiqi emerged between the 14th and 15th centuries, when Kashmir became a cross-cultural link for India, Persia, Central Asia, and the wider Islamic world. “The arrival of Sufi saints, scholars, artisans, and musicians from regions such as Iran, Bukhara, and Samarkand introduced new musical ideas that blended with existing Kashmiri traditions,” said Mr. Beg.He said rather than replacing local traditions, these influences merged with indigenous Kashmiri musical practices, creating a distinctive classical form that belongs exclusively to Kashmir. “Scholars describe it as a synthesis of Persian, Central Asian, and Indian musical systems shaped by local sensibilities. Sufiyana music of Kashmir is a form of dialogue between civilisations, Persian, Islamic and Shaivite, both classic and folk,” he added. It’s believed that Sufiyana Mausiki had around fifty-four maqams or ragas and only 20-25 are in practice now. Most Sufiyana Mausiki opens with an instrumental prelude and a short poem sung without rhythm. It uses specific instruments of santoor, ney (a type of flute), harmonium, rabab, tabla and sitar.UNESCO has already included several intangible art forms like Vedic Chanting, Ramlila, Mudiyettu, Buddhist Chanting, Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja and Garba in the list. Published - June 25, 2026 02:23 am IST

Govt to organise conference titled India’s Progressive Path in Administration of Criminal Justice System in Kolkata

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Govt to organise conference titled India’s Progressive Path in Administration of Criminal Justice System in Kolkata

4 min readKolkataJun 22, 2026 07:15 AM IST Welcoming the Kolkata Municipal Corporation's move, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari called it a “historic decision” towards “rectifying a historical wrong”. In a first since the BJP came to power in West Bengal, Kolkata’s Suhrawardy Avenue, a prominent arterial road in the city’s heart, has been renamed Gopal Mukherjee Road, after “Gopal Patha”, a polarising figure associated with the 1946 communal riots preceding India’s partition in 1947. Welcoming the Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s move, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari called it a “historic decision” towards “rectifying a historical wrong”.The Kolkata Municipal Corporation, which is being run by IAS officer Smita Pandey after the resignation of TMC mayor Firhad Hakim, renamed Suhrawardy Avenue on Saturday on the occasion of Paschimbanga Divas. In a post on social media, the chief minister wrote, “For decades, a major artery of our city bore the name of someone who wilfully misused state power as a weapon, orchestrating the massacre of innocent citizens for sheer political gain.” Although Adhikari did not specify which Suhrawardy he was talking about in his post, it appeared to referred to Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, a Muslim League leader who was the Prime Minister of Bengal during the 1946 riots and later went on to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan. However, historically, the road was never named after the controversial political leader, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. Instead, it was named after his uncle, Hassan Shaheed Suhrawardy – a highly regarded Bengali academic, diplomat, and art critic.Story continues below this ad The public discourse surrounding Suhrawardy Avenue, which connects the Park Circus 7-Point Crossing to Don Bosco Circle, has frequently faced scrutiny and debate. Nearly a decade ago, a wave of social media outrage erupted when an online right-wing outlet published a fiery piece titled, “It’s A Crying Shame That ‘The Butcher of Bengal’ has a road named after him in Kolkata. The article argued that the city shouldn’t be honouring Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the political figure heavily blamed for enabling mass atrocities, violence, and displacement of the city’s Hindu population during the mid-1940s. The Calcutta Municipal Gazette of March 1933 mentions that the Calcutta Municipal Corporation held a meeting on March 8, 1933 and decided to name Suhrawardy Avenue “the new (100 ft) road constructed by the C.I.T. (Calcutta Improvement Trust) from Park Circus to the junction of Kasaipara Lane (and lying north of the Park) on which stands the house of Sir Hassan Suhrawardy, Vice-Chancellor of the Calcutta University”. The name of the road was notified through the Calcutta Municipal Gazette on April 20, 1933. The street’s new name is after Gopal Chandra Mukherjee, also known as “Gopal Patha”, associated with the “Great Calcutta Killings” that began on August 16, 1946, following the call for “Direct Action Day” by the All-India Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.Story continues below this ad Mukherjee, then a 33-year-old meat shop owner from College Street, mobilised local youths into an armed resistance unit later called the Bharater Jatiya Bahini (Indian National Force), and gained prominence for organising community defense measures during the peak of the riots. “By renaming it (Suhrawardy Avenue) after Gopal Mukherjee, the fearless soul who stepped up as a protector-in-chief to defend and save thousands of innocent lives, finally, the restoration of historical justice will be achieved by honouring a true guardian and saviour. It’s time West Bengal remembers, corrects, and honours the Real Heroes,” Adhikari wrote on Sunday. However, Opposition leaders slammed the move, saying that the BJP government was “overlooking historical facts”. Congress leader Pawan Khera said the BJP leaders confused Hassan Suhrawardy with Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. “These BJP leaders do not even know the difference between Hasan Suhr

Yaduveer seeks Central support for tourism, heritage projects

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Yaduveer seeks Central support for tourism, heritage projects

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. | Photo Credit: ANI GUWAHATIThe Arunachal Pradesh government has launched a “film challenge” initiative to promote the creation of visual content.Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the first-of-its-kind initiative, supported by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), seeks to promote tourism, culture, creativity, traditional knowledge systems, indigenous products, and the MSME sector through digital storytelling.He launched TRACTION 2026: Residency and Film Challenge, a portal for creative visual content, from his office in the State capital, Itanagar, on Monday (June 15, 2026).The Ministry of MSME is supporting the initiative under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance scheme in collaboration with the State Department of Industries and the Centre for Cultural Research and Documentation at Rajiv Gandhi University.“TRACTION 2026 is not merely a filmmaking challenge. It is a platform to tell the authentic stories of Arunachal Pradesh to the world. Through the creative lens of content creators and filmmakers, our rich cultural heritage, unique traditions, adventure tourism destinations, GI-tagged products, handicrafts, handmade paper, and MSME success stories can reach a global audience,” Mr. Khandu said.Highlighting the importance of the digital economy and the growing influence of social media in shaping public perceptions and consumer choices, the Chief Minister said the initiative would empower aspiring filmmakers, vloggers, and content creators from across the Northeast to become the region’s cultural and economic ambassadors.He further said visual storytelling has emerged as one of the most effective mediums for promoting destinations and preserving cultural narratives. Through authentic and engaging content, creators can help project the true image of Arunachal Pradesh while raising awareness of its tourism potential, local enterprises, and indigenous products.Nyato Dukam, the State’s Industries Minister, emphasised the transformative potential of the initiative in promoting Arunachal Pradesh’s tourism and cultural assets by bringing together government institutions, academia, cultural organisations, and content creators.“Arunachal Pradesh possesses a diverse range of cultural traditions, indigenous practices, crafts, cuisines, and tourism destinations that can attract national and global attention when presented through compelling visual narratives,” he said. Published - June 16, 2026 02:57 pm IST

Electricity bills to increase by 10% in UP from June, govt cites surcharge on fuel price

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Electricity bills to increase by 10% in UP from June, govt cites surcharge on fuel price

Fuel prices were unchanged today on Monday, 15 June. The last fuel price hike was on Monday, 25 May, when oil marketing companies (OMCs) hiked both petrol and diesel prices by more than ₹2.50/litre.Petrol, diesel prices on June 15.Petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged across India on June 15, as state-owned oil marketing companies continued to hold fuel rates steady. While domestic fuel prices have not seen any revisions today, global crude oil markets remain volatile amid ongoing tensions in the West Asia crisis, keeping investors and policymakers on alert.Fuel prices were raised in MayPetrol and diesel prices were last revised in May 2026, when rates were increased by ₹3 per litre. Since then, oil marketing companies have been conducting regular price reviews but have opted to maintain current rates. The decision to keep prices unchanged has provided some relief to consumers despite fluctuations in international crude oil prices.Consumers can check the latest petrol and diesel prices in their respective cities through the table below.CityPetrol ( ₹/litre)Diesel ( ₹/litre)Delhi ₹102.12 ₹95.20Mumbai ₹111.21 ₹97.83Kolkata ₹113.47 ₹99.82Chennai ₹107.88 ₹99.65Lucknow ₹101.86 ₹95.36Noida ₹102.12 ₹95.56What determines petrol and diesel prices in India?The prices motorists pay for petrol and diesel are influenced by a mix of global and domestic factors.The most significant driver is the international price of crude oil, the primary raw material used to produce both fuels. Any movement in global crude prices typically has a direct impact on retail fuel rates in India.Another crucial factor is the rupee–US dollar exchange rate. As India imports the majority of its crude oil requirements, a weaker rupee makes imports more expensive, increasing the overall cost of fuel.Why do fuel prices vary from city to city?Fuel prices differ across cities and states largely because of variations in state-level taxes. While the central government levies excise duty, state governments impose their own value-added tax (VAT), resulting in differing retail prices across the country.In addition, transportation and distribution costs, along with local demand and supply conditions, can influence the final price consumers pay at the pump.Govt bars industries from buying petrol, diesel at pumpsMeanwhile, the Centre barred industrial, commercial and institutional consumers from purchasing petrol and diesel through retail fuel outlets and directed them to procure supplies from authorised bulk sellers instead.The move followed an order issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Wednesday. Under the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Temporary Regulation of Supply through Retail Outlets) Order, 2026, oil marketing companies and fuel retailers were instructed to restrict bulk fuel purchases at petrol pumps for periods of up to 90 days.The government took the step in response to unusually high demand growth, particularly for diesel, in certain regions. Officials noted that several bulk consumers had shifted their purchases to retail fuel stations to take advantage of price differences, putting additional pressure on supplies at petrol pumps.About the AuthorKanishka SinghariaKanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity. With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture. She also

Free education for Odisha students in govt schools, colleges from KG to PG: CM

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Free education for Odisha students in govt schools, colleges from KG to PG: CM

2 min readNew DelhiJun 12, 2026 05:56 PM IST The announcement came during a press conference marking two years of the BJP government in Odisha. (Representative image: Express photo by Narendra vaskar) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced that education in government schools and colleges across the state will now be free from kindergarten to postgraduate level. The announcement came during a press conference marking two years of the BJP government in Odisha. Majhi said the initiative is aimed at ensuring universal access to education and will particularly benefit students from economically weaker sections and girls.“In order to make education truly free and universal, my government is announcing free education from KG to PG. This step, perhaps the first of its kind in the country, will be implemented in Odisha,” Majhi stated. ଆମ ସରକାର ଶିକ୍ଷାକୁ ପ୍ରକୃତ ଅର୍ଥରେ ଦେୟମୁକ୍ତ ଓ ସାର୍ବଜନୀନ କରିବା ଦିଗରେ ଐତିହାସିକ ପଦକ୍ଷେପ ନେଇଛନ୍ତି । କେଜିରୁ ପିଜି ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଦେୟମୁକ୍ତ ଶିକ୍ଷା ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ରାଜ୍ୟର ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀ, ବିଶେଷକରି ଆର୍ଥିକ ଭାବେ ପଛୁଆ ବର୍ଗ ଉପକୃତ ହେବେ । #2YearsofLokankaSarakar… pic.twitter.com/7egjaJn4j5 — Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) June 12, 2026 The Chief Minister emphasised that the decision would strengthen the foundation of the state’s youth and contribute significantly to long-term development. Reflecting on his administration’s journey since assuming office on June 12, 2024, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi described it as a people-centric government operating in close coordination with citizens under the Centre-State double-engine model. He underscored that in the past two years, the government has rolled out 121 welfare and development schemes, aimed at fostering a more inclusive and prosperous Odisha. Earlier on Thursday, the Odisha government announced free bus rides for candidates taking the NEET UG re-examination on June 21. In a letter to the chairman-cum-managing director of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC), the government stated that, following the directive of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, it will provide free bus travel for NEET aspirants. This facility will be available to all 56,983 candidates across the state who will be attending exams at 134 examination centres. This decision aims to reduce the risk of heatstroke, support candidates from economically weaker sections, and ensure hassle-free travel to the exam centres.